Recent Posts

The ZSA Moonlander is a pre-built columnar, split ergonomic 72-key keyboard. It runs QMK-based firmware for full customization. I’ve been daily-driving a ZSA Moonlander for two years now and, with just a few caveats, I’m a big fan of the keyboard. As of the time of this writing, you can buy it1 direct from ZSA for $365 USD. Click to view full size image Caption: Overhead view of the author’s Moonlander keyboard read more...

If you’ve been around electronics long enough, you’ll have a few magic smoke moments: sometimes you’ll hear a pop, maybe see some smoke, and usually smell ozone and burning plastic in the air. Back at the ISP we had our fair share of those. One time, I managed to connect a backup battery string to a DC inverter backwards (reversed polarity.) The batteries were fused - so no melt-down/fire - but the inverter let out its magic smoke. read more...

A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Aged from Completely Destroying The World Like a lot of people1, I think elected representatives should be like airline pilots: made to retire at 65. I don’t have anything against the elderly per se, but I think good governance is mostly about having a preference for the future. A long time ago, I read an essay by Paul Begala2 where he shared this anecdote: read more...

To help manage RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury,) in my pinky fingers (Emacs Pinky) I’ve swapped my key switch springs for the lightest springs I think will allow the key switches to return properly: Sprit MX Supreme 25 S springs. I bought a pack of ~100 springs from RD KBD, for $20 USD shipped. After a week, I’m still getting acclimated to the new springs, which has required more adjustment than switching from Cherry MX Browns to Gateron Clears or switching out my key caps from OEM to XDA profile. The change in feel is enough that I hesitate a bit on the keys, and I’m experiencing some accidental activations from resting my fingers on the home row. I think in another week or two, I’ll be back up to full speed. read more...

Click to view full size image Caption: Installed keycaps; left side After not touching my keyboard layout in any real way for a while, I decided to buy a set of printed key caps to match my layout. After looking around, I found FK Caps which met all of my must-have requirements: Fully customizable legends Full range of custom sizes Shinethrough legends Not terribly expensive (all-in cost with 8 extra 1U keys and shipping was $89 USD.) My previous set of caps were the OEM profile ones that came with my Moonlander, and I would have liked to stick with the OEM profile, if for no other reason than to not have to buy a full set of caps. Alas, FK does not offer custom-printed OEM profile caps (at least for shine through,) so I went with XDA. They offer a few different profiles: read more...